Catheter with active return curve

Abstract

An active return curve deflectable catheter includes an elongate catheter body, a fixation member, a deflection assembly, and a pull wire. The fixation member is coupled to a distal portion of the elongate catheter body. The deflection assembly includes a hub coupled to a proximal end of the elongate catheter body, a handle, and a control member. The pull wire extends from the control member through the hub assembly to the fixation member. The elongate catheter body is configured to deflect from an initial configuration to a deflected configuration in response to a pull force applied to the pull wire by actuation of the control member in a first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter comprising:
 an elongate catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the elongate catheter body comprises a catheter sidewall defining a longitudinally extending catheter lumen;   a proximal fixation member coupled to the proximal end of the elongate catheter body;   a hub coupled to the proximal fixation member and extending proximally of the proximal fixation member; the hub comprising a hub sidewall defining a longitudinally extending hub lumen;   a handle coupled with respect to the hub;   a control member configured to be slidable relative to the handle or the hub;   a pull wire extending proximally from a distal portion of the elongate catheter body, longitudinally through the catheter sidewall, in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body, and through the proximal fixation member;   wherein the proximal fixation member, at a location proximal of the proximal end of the catheter body, holds the pull wire at a non-parallel angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, such that the pull wire extends radially outward as it extends proximally, and a proximal portion of the pull wire is located radially outward of the hub sidewall where the pull wire extends into a surrounding rigid member and is coupled with respect to the control member;   wherein the perimeter of the pull wire is closely surrounded in the catheter sidewall, the proximal fixation member and the surrounding rigid member, such that the catheter body is configured to:
 deflect from an initial configuration to a deflected configuration in response to a pull force applied to the pull wire by actuation of the control member in a first direction; and
 deflect from the deflected configuration toward the initial configuration in response to a push force applied to the pull wire by actuation of the control member in a second direction. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a handle surround configured to surround at least a portion of the pull wire extending from the hub to the control member. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the hub is overmolded to the proximal fixation member. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the pull wire is coupled to the control member via the surrounding rigid member. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the surrounding rigid member comprises a rigid tube. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the pull wire is fixed to a distal end of the catheter body. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the pull wire emerges from a proximal end of the proximal fixation member before extending along an exterior of the hub sidewall toward the control member. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal fixation member comprises:
 at least one of a ferrule or a collet configured to engage an exterior surface of the catheter sidewall of the elongate catheter body by at least one of a friction fit or a compression fit; and   a channel configured to retain the pull wire in sliding engagement.   
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 8 , wherein the proximal fixation member further comprises a retention arm extending from the ferrule or the collet, the retention arm comprising a retention channel extending from a distal end to a proximal end thereof at the non-parallel angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the retention channel is configured to retain the pull wire in sliding engagement. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the proximal fixation member further comprises a reveal surround coupled to the retention arm, the reveal surround comprising a reveal surround channel configured to retain the pull wire in sliding engagement, wherein the reveal surround channel extends from a distal end to a proximal end thereof at the non-parallel angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the hub is overmolded to encase at least a portion of the proximal fixation member and at least a distal portion of the reveal surround. 
     
     
         12 . A medical system comprising:
 an implantable medical device;   an elongate catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the elongate catheter body comprises a catheter sidewall defining a longitudinally extending catheter lumen and a distal cup configured to receive the implantable medical device;   a proximal fixation member coupled to the proximal end of the elongate catheter body;   a hub coupled to the proximal fixation member and extending proximally of the proximal fixation member; the hub comprising a hub sidewall defining a longitudinally extending hub lumen;   a handle coupled with respect to the hub;   a control member configured to be slidable relative to the handle or the hub;   a pull wire extending proximally from a distal portion of the elongate catheter body, longitudinally through the catheter sidewall, in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body, and through the proximal fixation member;   wherein the proximal fixation member, at a location proximal of the proximal end of the catheter body, holds the pull wire at a non-parallel angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, such that the pull wire extends radially outward as it extends proximally, and a proximal portion of the pull wire is located radially outward of the hub sidewall where the pull wire extends into a surrounding rigid member and is coupled with respect to the control member;   wherein the perimeter of the pull wire is closely surrounded in the catheter sidewall, the proximal fixation member and the surrounding rigid member, such that the catheter body is configured to:
 deflect from an initial configuration to a deflected configuration in response to a pull force applied to the pull wire by actuation of the control member in a first direction; and
 deflect from the deflected configuration toward the initial configuration in response to a push force applied to the pull wire by actuation of the control member in a second direction. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The medical system of  claim 12 , wherein the handle comprises a handle surround configured to surround at least a portion of the pull wire extending from the hub to the control member. 
     
     
         14 . The medical system of  claim 12 , wherein the hub is overmolded to the proximal fixation member. 
     
     
         15 . The medical system of  claim 12 , wherein the pull wire is coupled to the control member via the surrounding rigid member. 
     
     
         16 . The medical system of  claim 12 , wherein the surrounding rigid member comprises a rigid tube. 
     
     
         17 . The medical system of  claim 12 , wherein the distal end of the pull wire is fixed to a distal end of the catheter body. 
     
     
         18 . The medical system of  claim 12 , wherein the pull wire emerges from a proximal end of the proximal fixation member before extending along an exterior of the hub sidewall toward the control member. 
     
     
         19 . The medical system of  claim 12 , wherein the proximal fixation member comprises:
 at least one of a ferrule or a collet configured to engage an exterior surface of the catheter sidewall of the elongate catheter body by at least one of a friction fit or a compression fit; and   a channel configured to retain the pull wire in sliding engagement.   
     
     
         20 . The medical system of  claim 19 , wherein the proximal fixation member further comprises a retention arm extending from the ferrule or the collet, the retention arm comprising a retention channel extending from a distal end to a proximal end thereof at the non-parallel angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the retention channel is configured to retain the pull wire in sliding engagement.